Abstract: According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a soft magnetic underlayer formed above a substrate, a lower seed layer formed above the soft magnetic underlayer, at least one upper seed layer formed above the lower seed layer, an interlayer formed above the at least one upper seed layer, a perpendicular recording layer formed above the interlayer, and a protective layer formed above the perpendicular recording layer, wherein the at least one upper seed layer comprises Ni or a Ni based alloy including N, and wherein the lower seed layer includes Ni and at least one element selected from a group consisting of: W and Cr. Other embodiments are described herein regarding perpendicular magnetic recording systems and methods of producing perpendicular magnetic media.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium is disclosed in which, on a non-magnetic substrate 1, at least an orientation control layer that controls orientation of a layer immediately above and a vertical magnetic layer in which an easy axis of magnetization is mainly vertically oriented with respect to the non-magnetic substrate are laminated. The orientation control layer includes an Ru-containing layer containing Ru or Ru alloy, and a diffusion prevention layer provided on the Ru-containing layer on the side of the vertical magnetic layer, is made of a material having a melting point of 1500° C. or higher and 4215° C. or lower and formed by a covalent bond or an ionic bond, and prevents thermal diffusion of Ru atoms of the Ru-containing layer.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a recording medium for heat-assisted-magnetic-recording (HAMR) is provided. The method includes forming an underlayer on a substrate, the underlayer including a precursor material, epitaxially depositing an interlayer on the underlayer, forming a recording layer over the interlayer, and converting the precursor material to a converted material having a thermal conductivity that is higher than a thermal conductivity of the recording layer. According to further embodiments of the present invention, another method for manufacturing a recording medium for heat-assisted-magnetic-recording (HAMR) and a recording medium for heat-assisted-magnetic-recording (HAMR) are also provided.

Abstract: A magnetic stack includes a substrate, a magnetic recording layer, and a TiN—X layer disposed between the substrate and the magnetic recording layer. In the TiN—X layer, X is a dopant comprising at least one of MgO, TiO, TiO2, ZrN, ZrO, ZrO2, HfN, HfO, AlN, and Al2O3.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a recording layer having a granular structure in which magnetic particles are dispersed within a non-magnetic base, and a non-magnetic material embedded in grooves of patterns formed on the recording layer. The magnetic particles have an inverted truncated cone shape with a diameter larger in an upper region of the recording layer than in a lower region of the recording layer.

Abstract: Provided are a perpendicular magnetic recording medium and a method for manufacturing the same, the perpendicular magnetic recording medium including an alloy (FePt, FePd, or CoPt) having a large Ku value with an L10 type ordered structure, and obtained with achievement of controlled crystal orientation and thin film formation without heating. Specifically, in the perpendicular magnetic recording medium, at least a nonmagnetic seed layer, a nonmagnetic underlayer, and a magnetic layer are formed in this order on a nonmagnetic substrate. The nonmagnetic seed layer includes a MgO layer and a metal layer having a body-centered cubic (bcc) structure. The nonmagnetic underlayer has a NaCl type structure of one selected from the group consisting of MgO, NiO, TiO, CrN, Ti carbides, and Ti nitrides. The magnetic layer includes an alloy selected from the group consisting of FePt, FePd, and CoPt having an L10 type ordered structure.

Abstract: A synthetic antiferromagnetic device includes a reference layer, a magnesium oxide spacer layer disposed on the reference layer, a cobalt iron boron layer disposed on the magnesium oxide spacer layer, and a first ruthenium layer disposed on cobalt iron boron layer, the first ruthenium layer having a thickness of approximately 0 ? to 32 ?.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, an auxiliary layer formed on the substrate, and at least one perpendicular magnetic recording layer formed on the auxiliary layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer includes a magnetic dot pattern. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer is made of an alloy material containing one element selected from iron and cobalt, and one element selected from platinum and palladium. This alloy material has the L10 structure, and is (001)-oriented. The auxiliary layer includes a dot-like first region covered with the magnetic dot pattern, and a second region not covered with the magnetic dot pattern. The first region is made of one metal selected from (100)-oriented nickel and (100)-oriented iron. The second region contains an oxide of the metal used in the first region.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic media includes a substrate, a patterned template, a seed layer and a magnetic layer. The patterned template is formed on the substrate and includes a plurality of growth sites that are evenly spaced apart from each other. The seed layer is formed over the patterned template and the exposed areas of the substrate. Magnetic material is sputter deposited onto the seed layer with one grain of the magnetic material nucleated over each of the growth sites. The grain size distribution of the magnetic material is reduced by controlling the locations of the growth sites which optimizes the performance of the perpendicular magnetic media.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is disclosed which is capable of reducing the orientational dispersion and crystal grain size of a magnetic recording layer, simultaneously reducing the thickness of a non-magnetic intermediate layer, hence, reducing noise, and improving S/N ratio and recording density characteristics. The medium includes a non-magnetic substrate, soft magnetic underlayer, seed layer, first non-magnetic intermediate layer, second non-magnetic intermediate layer, granular magnetic recording layer, exchange coupling force control layer, non-granular magnetic recording layer, protective layer, and lubricant layer sequentially formed on the non-magnetic substrate. The first and second non-magnetic intermediate layers are laminated to form a two-layer non-magnetic intermediate layer and the seed layer is made of a material having an fcc structure.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a ferromagnetic granular layer with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and having a granular structure; and a cap layer above said granular layer, the cap layer being a ferromagnetic continuous layer with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, wherein, near a first side of said granular layer nearest the cap layer. Surfaces of the ferromagnetic grains of said granular layer facing the cap layer each have a domed shape defining undulations along the first side. Indentations in said ferromagnetic grains are filled by the oxide of the grain boundary in a vicinity of the first side of said granular layer. Undulations on a granular layer side of said cap layer are flatter than the undulations of the ferromagnetic grains on the first side of said granular layer.

Abstract: A magnetic memory device includes a track in which different non-magnetic layers are respectively formed on upper and lower surfaces of a magnetic layer. One of the two non-magnetic layers includes an element having an atomic number greater than or equal to 12. Accordingly, the magnetic layer has a relatively high non-adiabaticity (?).

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming magnetic media with an underlayer are provided. One such method includes providing a non-magnetic substrate, forming a seed layer above the substrate, the seed layer including MgO, forming an underlayer on the seed layer, the underlayer including a material selected from the group consisting of Pd, Pt, W, Fe, V, Cu, and Ag, and forming a magnetic recording layer on the underlayer, the recording layer including FePt oxide.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide for a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media comprising: a magnetic recording layer; a barrier layer disposed under the magnetic recording layer; a first underlayer disposed under the barrier layer; and an amorphous seedlayer disposed under the first underlayer. For some embodiments, the recording medium may comprise: a magnetic recording layer including FePt alloy, a CoPt alloy, or a FePd alloy; a barrier layer including MgO, TiC, TiN, CrN, TiCN, ?-WC, TaC, HfC, ZrC, VC, NbC, or NiO; a first underlayer including RuAl-oxide, NiAl, FeAl, AlMn, CuBe, or AlRe; or an amorphous seedlayer including a Cr—X alloy, where X comprises Al, B, C, Cu, Hf, Ho, Mn, Mo, Ni, Ta, Ti, V, W, or Ru.

Abstract: Perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) media and methods of fabricating PMR media are described. The PMR media includes, among other layers, an underlayer, a first onset layer on the underlayer, a second onset layer on the first onset layer, and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer on the second onset layer. The second onset layer has a magnetic moment which is higher than both a magnetic moment of the first onset layer and a magnetic moment of the perpendicular magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus that includes: a perpendicular magnetic recording medium including a substrate, a soft under layer above the substrate, a seed layer structure above the soft under layer, wherein the seed layer structure contains Ruthenium; and a magnetic recording layer above the seed layer structure.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium exhibits reduced noise and improved performance in such measures as SN ratio, and can realize high magnetic recording densities. In the perpendicular magnetic recording medium, at least a first nonmagnetic intermediate layer, second nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and magnetic recording layer are stacked in order on a nonmagnetic substrate. The first nonmagnetic intermediate layer is formed from a CoCrRuW alloy, and the second nonmagnetic intermediate layer is formed from an Ru-base alloy.

Abstract: The heat-assisted magnetic recording medium of the present invention has a substrate, an under layer formed on the substrate, and a magnetic layer formed on the under layer, in which the magnetic layer includes an alloy having a L10 structure as a principle component, and the under layer is constituted by a first under layer made of an amorphous alloy or an alloy having a microcrystalline structure, a second under layer made of Cr or an alloy which contains Cr as a principle component and has a BCC structure, a third under layer made of a metal or an alloy having a BCC structure with a lattice constant of 2.98 ? or more, and a fourth under layer made of MgO.

Abstract: A silicon/gold (Si/Au) bilayer seed structure is located in a film stack between an amorphous or crystalline lower layer and an upper layer with a well-defined crystalline structure. The seed structure includes a Si layer on the generally flat surface of the lower layer and a Au layer on the Si layer. The Si/Au interface initiates the growth of the Au layer with a face-centered-cubic (fcc) crystalline structure with the (111) plane oriented in-plane. The upper layer grown on the Au layer has a fcc or hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) crystalline structure. If the upper layer is a fcc material its [111] direction is oriented substantially perpendicular to the (111) plane of the Au layer and if the upper layer is a hcp material, its c-axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to the (111) plane of the Au layer.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) media including a non-magnetic or superparamagnetic grain isolation magnetic anisotropy layer (GIMAL) to provide a template for initially well-isolated small grain microstructure as well as improvement of Ku in core grains of a magnetic recording layer. The GIMAL composition may be adjusted to have lattice parameters similar to a bottom magnetic recording layer and to provide a buffer for reducing interface strains caused by lattice mismatch between the bottom magnetic recording layer and an underlying layer.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium used for the thermally assisted magnetic recording system which fires a laser beam at a magnetic recording medium to partially heat the medium and applies a magnetic field from the outside to the part heated to lower the coercivity for recording. The magnetic recording medium is configured by a glass substrate on which a heat radiation layer, heat retention layer, intermediate layer, and recording layer are stacked. Further, the heat retention layer is configured by a member having an effective refractive index lower than the effective refractive index of the recording layer and having an temperature diffusion coefficient determined by the specific heat, density, and heat conductivity rate higher than glass and lower than metal. The material with a high temperature diffusion coefficient is used lowered in temperature diffusion coefficient using a porous structure or granular structure.

Abstract: A magnetic junction is described. The magnetic junction includes a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a free layer. The magnetic junction may also include an additional nonmagnetic spacer layer and an additional pinned layer opposing the nonmagnetic spacer layer and the pinned layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the pinned layer and the free layer. The free layer is configured to be switchable using a write current passed through the magnetic junction. The free layer is also configured to be thermally stable in a quiescent state and have a reduced thermal stability due to heating from the write current being passed through the magnetic junction. In some aspects, the free layer includes at least one of a pinning layer(s) interleaved with ferromagnetic layer(s), two sets of interleaved ferromagnetic layers having different Curie temperatures, and a ferrimagnet having a saturation magnetization that increases with temperature between ferromagnetic layers.

Abstract: A perpendicularly magnetized thin film structure and a method of manufacturing the perpendicularly magnetized thin film structure are provided. The perpendicularly magnetized thin film structure includes i) a base layer, ii) a magnetic layer located on the base layer and having an L10-crystalline structure, and iii) a metal oxide layer located on the magnetic layer.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprises a magnetic recording layer that records a signal, an underlayer formed of Ru or Ru compound below the magnetic recording layer, a non-magnetic layer formed of a non-magnetic material below the underlayer to control crystal orientation of the underlayer, a soft magnetic layer provided below the non-magnetic layer, and a substrate on which the magnetic recording layer, the underlayer, the non-magnetic layer, and the soft magnetic layer are formed. The non-magnetic layer comprises a first non-magnetic layer formed above the soft magnetic layer and a second non-magnetic layer formed above the first non-magnetic layer. The first non-magnetic layer is formed of amorphous Ni compound while the second non-magnetic layer is formed of crystalline Ni or crystalline Ni compound.

Abstract: Magnetic layers are described that include the use of magnetic grains and non-magnetic grain boundaries with hybrid additives. Hybrid additives include the use of at least two different additives in the composition of the grain boundaries of a magnetic layer in magnetic recording media. The use of hybrid additives in the grain boundaries results in improved recording media. Methods for forming magnetic layers and magnetic recording media with the hybrid additive grain boundaries are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a recording medium comprising: a hard magnetic recording layer and an interlayer disposed under the hard magnetic recording layer, wherein the interlayer comprises an upper layer of Ru-based alloy and a lower layer of RuCo or ReCo alloy. Generally for embodiments of the present invention, the lower layer of RuCo or ReCo alloy is formed over a seed layer using a low-pressure sputter process, and the upper layer of Ru-based alloy is formed over the lower layer using a high-pressure sputter process.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording stack with a dual continuous layer and a method of manufacturing the same. The perpendicular magnetic recording stack includes a substrate, one or more magnetic granular recording layers, and a dual continuous layer having first and second continuous layers. The first continuous layer, disposed between the second continuous layer and the magnetic granular recording layers, has an intermediate lateral exchange coupling, which is higher than the lateral exchange coupling of the magnetic granular layers. The second continuous layer has a higher lateral exchange coupling than the first continuous layer.

Abstract: It is aimed to provide a perpendicular magnetic recording medium capable of dealing with an ultra-higher recording density than before and its manufacturing method. The present invention concerns a perpendicular magnetic recording medium including at least a seed layer made of noncrystalline ceramic, a crystalline orientation control layer and a magnetic layer made of a material mainly containing a FePt alloy in this order on a substrate. This perpendicular magnetic recording medium is suitably manufactured by forming at least the seed layer, the orientation control layer and the magnetic layer made of the material mainly containing the FePt alloy in this order on the substrate by sputtering, wherein the magnetic layer is formed at a predetermined temperature of 500° C. or less.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a soft magnetic layer, a first nonmagnetic underlayer having a fine crystal structure and made of Pd or a Pd alloy, a second nonmagnetic underlayer made of Ru or an Ru alloy, and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer are stacked on a nonmagnetic substrate.

Abstract: A magnetic element has a magnetically responsive lamination with a ferromagnetic free layer separated from a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) layer by a spacer layer and from a sensed data bit stored in an adjacent medium by an air bearing surface (ABS). The lamination is coupled to at least one antiferromagnetic (AFM) tab a predetermined offset distance from the ABS.

Abstract: A holder of a magnetic storage apparatus is suggested that can efficiently absorb the shock when a vibration or shock is applied to the magnetic storage apparatus. A plurality of holding members (first shock absorbing material foam rubber 340 and second shock absorbing material foam rubber 350) that hold at least two corner parts of the magnetic storage apparatus 320 is included. The holding members are configured in a way that a total sum of holding power to hold one of opposite angles of the magnetic storage apparatus 320 and a total sum of holding power to hold the other of opposite angles are different. The first shock absorbing material foam rubber 340 is disposed on one of opposite angles, and the second shock absorbing material foam rubber 350 is disposed on the other of the opposite angles. The first shock absorbing material foam rubber 340 has greater hardness than the hardness of the second shock absorbing material foam rubber 350.

Abstract: A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording disk has a Co-alloy recording layer patterned into discrete data islands arranged in concentric tracks and exhibits a narrow switching field distribution (SFD). The disk includes a substrate, a NiTa alloy planarizing layer on the substrate, a nonmagnetic Ru-containing underlayer on the planarizing layer, an oxide-free Co alloy magnetic recording layer, and an ultrathin oxide film between the Ru-containing layer and the Co-alloy magnetic recording layer. The oxide film may be an oxide selected from a Ta-oxide, a Co-oxide and a Ti-oxide, and is ultrathin so that it may be considered a discontinuous film. The planarizing layer and ultrathin oxide film improve the growth homogeneity of the Co-alloy recording layer, so that the patterned disk with data islands shows significantly reduced SFD.

Abstract: A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording disk has a Co-alloy recording layer patterned into discrete data islands arranged in concentric tracks and exhibits a narrow switching field distribution (SFD). The disk includes a substrate, a NiTa alloy planarizing layer on the substrate, a nonmagnetic Ru-containing underlayer on the planarizing layer, an oxide-free Co alloy magnetic recording layer, and an ultrathin oxide film between the Ru-containing layer and the Co-alloy magnetic recording layer. The oxide film may be an oxide selected from a Ta-oxide, a Co-oxide and a Ti-oxide, and is ultrathin so that it may be considered a discontinuous film. The planarizing layer and ultrathin oxide film improve the growth homogeneity of the Co-alloy recording layer, so that the patterned disk with data islands shows significantly reduced SFD.

Abstract: A discrete track perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) disk and a method of fabricating the disk are described. The PMR disk may include a heat sink layer disposed above a substrate, intermediate layers disposed above the heat sink layer, and a magnetic recording layer disposed above the intermediate layers. The magnetic recording layer may have raised and recessed areas, where a heat conductive material may be disposed within one or more of the recessed areas.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a non-metallic interlayer between a magnetic data storage layer and a heat sink layer, wherein interface thermal resistance between the interlayer and the heat sink layer is capable of reducing heat flow between the heat sink layer and the magnetic data storage layer. The apparatus may be configured as a thin film structure arranged for data storage. The apparatus may also include thermal resistor layer positioned between the interlayer and the heat sink layer.

Abstract: A bit-patterned media (BPM) magnetic recording disk has discrete data islands with an exchange-coupled composite (ECC) recording layer (RL) formed of a high-anisotropy chemically-ordered FePt alloy lower layer, a lower-anisotropy Co/X laminate or multilayer (ML) upper layer with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, wherein X is Pt, Pd or Ni, and an optional nonmagnetic separation layer or coupling layer (CL) between the FePt layer and the ML. The FePt alloy layer is sputter deposited onto a seed layer structure, like a CrRu/Pt bilayer, while the disk substrate is maintained at an elevated temperature to assure the high anisotropy field Hk is achieved. The high-temperature deposition together with the CrRu/Pt seed layer structure provide a very smooth surface for subsequent deposition of the ML (and optional CL). The separate Co/X ML has by itself a very narrow switching field distribution (SFD), so that the SFD of the ECC RL is much narrower than the SFD for the FePt layer alone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for improving perpendicular magnetic recording media. The present invention provides media, and a method of fabricating media in a cost-effective manner, with a reduced ruthenium (Ru) content interlayer structure, while meeting media performance requirements. A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is provided comprising a non-magnetic substrate having a surface, and a layer stack situated on the substrate surface. The layer stack comprises, in overlying sequence from the substrate surface a magnetically soft underlayer; an amorphous or crystalline, non-magnetic seed layer; an interlayer structure for crystallographically orienting a layer of a perpendicular magnetic recording material situated on the underlayer; and at least one crystallographically oriented, magnetically hard, perpendicular magnetic recording layer situated on the interlayer structure.

Abstract: [Problem] A perpendicular magnetic disk with an improved SNR and increased recording density by further advancing microfabrication and uniformalization of particle diameters and improving crystal orientation regarding a preliminary ground layer made of a Ni-base alloy is provided. [Solution] The perpendicular magnetic disk includes: on a base 110, a first Ni alloy layer 142 and a second Ni alloy layer 144; a ground layer 150 having Ru as a main component; and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer 160 containing a CoPt-base alloy and an oxide in this order, the first Ni alloy layer 142 and the second Ni alloy layer 144 including at least one element that takes a bcc crystal structure as a simple substance, and the second Ni alloy layer 144 further including an oxide.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording medium that includes a substrate 1, underlayers formed on the substrate 1, and a magnetic layer 5 which is formed on the underlayers and contains either an FePt alloy having an L10 structure or a CoPt alloy having an L10 structure as a main component, wherein the underlayers include a first underlayer 2 formed from an amorphous alloy, a second underlayer 3 formed from an alloy having a BCC structure containing Cr as a main component and also containing at least one element selected from among Ti, Mo, W, V, Mn and Ru, and a third underlayer 4 formed from MgO. Also, a magnetic storage device that uses the heat-assisted magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: FePt-based perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) media including an ordering temperature reducing layer between a bottom FePtX magnetic recording layer and a nucleation layer. In one embodiment, an ordering temperature reducing layer of carbon is employed to lower the L10 ordering temperature of a FePtC recording layer.

Abstract: A magnetic recording disk has surface features of elevated lands and recessed grooves, and a planarized upper surface. A chemical-mechanical-polishing (CMP) stop layer is deposited over the lands and into the recesses. An adhesion film, like silicon, is deposited over the CMP stop layer, and fill material containing a silicon oxide (SiOx) is deposited over and in contact with the adhesion film. The adhesion film improves the adhesion of the SiOx fill material and prevents delamination during a subsequent two-step CMP planarizing process.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing with high productivity a magnetic recording medium having an MgO film is disclosed which uses a DC sputtering method. The method suppresses oxygen deficiency in the MgO film, and the MgO film has high crystallinity. The method includes at least a process of forming an intermediate layer of MgO on a nonmagnetic base by a reactive DC sputtering method that uses a target containing Mg and MgO in an oxygen-containing gas, and a process of forming a magnetic recording layer containing an L10 ordered alloy on the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A method for forming magnetic media is provided. The method of forming the magnetic media includes forming a plurality of regions of resist material on a top surface of a substrate which defines a plurality of regions of exposed substrate on the top surface of the substrate between adjacent ones of the plurality of regions of resist material. The method also includes forming magnetic material on the plurality of regions of resist material and the plurality of regions of exposed substrate and depositing material over the magnetic material, the material encapsulating a portion of the magnetic material formed on the plurality of regions of exposed substrate. A magnetic recording medium formed in accordance with the method is also provided.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic media includes a substrate, a patterned template, a seed layer and a magnetic layer. The patterned template is formed on the substrate and includes a plurality of growth sites that are evenly spaced apart from each other. The seed layer is formed over the patterned template and the exposed areas of the substrate. Magnetic material is sputter deposited onto the seed layer with one grain of the magnetic material nucleated over each of the growth sites. The grain size distribution of the magnetic material is reduced by controlling the locations of the growth sites which optimizes the performance of the perpendicular magnetic media.

Abstract: A layered structure includes an amorphous Ta layer, a metallic oxide layer formed from zinc oxide (ZnO) or magnesium oxide (MgO) on the Ta layer, and a FePt magnetic layer formed on the metallic oxide layer. Therefore, an L10 structural FePt ordered alloy is obtained at a temperature of 300° C. or lower.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium having a substrate, a Cr-doped Fe-alloy-containing underlayer containing about 8 to 18 at % Cr and a perpendicular recording magnetic layer, and a process for improving corrosion resistance of the recording medium and for manufacturing the recording medium are disclosed.

Abstract: Multilayer magnetic structures control the switching field and tighten the switching field distribution in bit patterned media. A strain-inducing layer is excited, e.g., by a localized magnetic field or a localized thermal heating or a voltage, and induces a strain on the magnetic layer(s) of the patterned bit to initiate switching of the bit magnetization. The strain induced on the magnetic layer forces a rotation or an amplitude variation of the magnetic layer anisotropy. A localized magnetic field is simultaneously or subsequently applied to complete the switching of the bit magnetization. The invention provides control of switching field and switching field distribution for bit-patterned media devices.

Abstract: A magnetic recording composite comprises a substrate, a plurality of layers deposited over the substrate, the plurality of layers defining an outer surface, and a self-assembled monolayer deposited over the outer surface of the plurality of layers. The self-assembled monolayer has an outer surface and comprises a plurality of molecules each having a head group bonded to the outer surface of the plurality of layers, a body group, and a tail group. The tail groups of the plurality of molecules form the outer surface of the self-assembled monolayer, and the self-assembled monolayer forms a substantially continuous layer over the outer surface of the magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for inspecting a magnetic recording medium in which the adhesion (transfer) of contaminants or corrosive materials to a magnetic head can be prevented. Specifically disclosed is a method for inspecting a magnetic recording medium including a non-magnetic substrate and additionally comprising at least a magnetic layer, a protective layer and a lubricant layer all provided on the non-magnetic substrate. The method is characterized by including exposing the magnetic recording medium to an atmosphere containing a siloxane and determining the resistance of the magnetic recording medium against environmental substances based on the amount of the siloxane attached to the surface of the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium A is provided on a non-magnetic substrate 1 with at least a soft under layer ?, an under film 5, an intermediate film 6 and a perpendicular magnetic recording film 7. The soft under layer a is a soft magnetic film having an amorphous structure. The under film 5 is formed of an Ni—W alloy. The intermediate film 6 is formed of an Ru alloy. In the Ni—W alloy, the Ni content is 80 atom % or more, and the W content is 20 atom % or less and preferably in the range of 1 atom % to 12 atom %. A magnetic recording and reproducing device 12 equipped with the magnetic recording medium A is excellent in productivity and capable of recording and reproducing information of high density.